Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. akflyer added a topic in Hardcore Avidfoxflyers   

    Hurt Feelings report
    Just thought I would post this one up..I think some on other sites could use it..
    HurtFeelingsReport.pdf
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  2. akflyer added a post in a topic Parts Suppliers for Avid and Kitfox   

    I just read the manual on it.  It only states that you need to have a filter before the ducer so you dont clog up the gauze filter in the transducer as that could lead to engine damage.. So I thinkthe best bet would be to install a bypass line and a valve you could hit real quick if it starts clogging inflight....
    Of course..while everything mechanical can and will go wrong at one time or another, how great is the risk really??  I have the screens in the tank, a filter on each tank before the gascolator, a filter after the gascolator and one after the fuel shutoff / tank selector valve..Any shit gets through to the transducer, and I have not been looking at the see through filter in the pre-flight...

    I am not sure it would really be worth putting in bypass line... I dont have a spare engine behind the seat just incase my rotax gives out on me....There can be many trains of thought on this one.
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  3. 84KF added a post in a topic Parts Suppliers for Avid and Kitfox   

    I like the looks of yours better.
    A concern I have revolves around this type of situation:

    http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources/Europa_XS,_G-IOWE.pdf

    Main concern.....

    "The fuel flow transducer was fitted in the single fuel supply pipe to the engine. The design was such
    that there was one path, with no bypass facility, for the fuel to pass through the transducer. The
    dimensions of the inlet passageway were of a size and shape susceptible to restriction or total
    blockage by small debris particles"

    So it would seem that a built in bypass system would be the best bet. It dosn't mention what the sender is like...  I'll look into it.

    http://www.northstargps.com/images/2006-images/explorer-images/Explorer-Manuals/F210.pdf

    steve
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  4. akflyer added a post in a topic Parts Suppliers for Avid and Kitfox   

    http://www.boatersland.com/fuelflow.html

    Steve,
    I have seen several guys on the list that used the flowscan.  That is the nice thing about experimental.. we can use parts that are not PMA/FAA approved.  I remember that the guys that had used them loved them and did not have any problems. 

    http://www.boatersland.com/f210.html

    This looks interesting..you can make it a part of the preflight to punch in how many gallons you have onboard and it will keep track of fuel burn and give you a low fuel alarm.. and it is cheap!  I changed my mind from the flowscan and I think I will give this one a go.
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  5. 84KF added a post in a topic Parts Suppliers for Avid and Kitfox   

    I've had my eye on this fuel flow product for a while but I cant find much mor info on it other then what "Spruce" has to say.
    Any more info, experience with, or links would be appreciated

    http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/fuelmizer.php



    steve

    ps.  I hate the look of the gauge..., but whatever.
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  6. akflyer added a topic in Avid and Kitfox parts Suppliers   

    Parts Suppliers for Avid and Kitfox
    I would like to get as many links as we can to help people out who are looking for Avid or kitfox (or any homebuilt/experimental) suppliers.

    Airdale http://www.airdale.com/

    Kitfox Site http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/

    California Power Systems http://www.800-airwolf.com/

    Blue Sky Aviation http://www.blueskyav...et/catalog.html

    Wing Tanks http://wingtanks.com/

    Aircraft Spruce http://www.aircraftspruce.com/

    Leading Edge Airfoils http://www.leadingedge-airfoils.com/

    Matco Wheels and Brakes http://www.matcomfg.com/

    JMB Rotax Carb Sockets (dont crack) http://www.geocities...tips/ROTAX.html

    Carlson Aircraft. Supplier for streamline Aluminum tubing for float mounting etc. http://www.carlsonai...com/struts.html

    Williams Aviation http://www.murlewilliamsaviation.com/ <this link does not have any bugs in it as of 11-19-09
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  7. akflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Thanks to all the veterans out there
    Just wanted to say a heart felt thank you to all the veterans out there.  With out you guys I truly believe that life would be much different around here.
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  8. akflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    question on mounting full lotus floats
    I have a set of Full Lotus 1260's to Put on my avid.  The came with skystar rigging for a kitfox.  The kitfox has a float mount that is 10" ahead of the front gear attach point, that the Avid does not have.  The way the fuse pinches in at the nose, the most I could get would be about 4" if I welded in a new fitting.  What I am thinking of doing is just using the front gear mount and the rear mount would go under the wing strut at that attach point.  This puts the two mounts allot closer together than on most conventional float mounts (about 22"-24" apart).  While it may look a bit awkward, does anyone see any problem with doing this?  I don't want to end up breaking the back of the Avid because the rear mount was too far forward.... but then again, this is a pretty short coupled plane and has allot of bracing in the back... Any thoughts?
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  9. 84KF added a post in a topic Builders reference.... and it's free.   

    JP,

      I stand by my theory, and pass along another, found at http://www.msu.edu/user/dynicrai/physics/dark.htm

    If it wasn't true, it couldn't be on the Internet.


    Steve       
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  10. eskflyer added a post in a topic Builders reference.... and it's free.   

    HMMMMM i do not recommend this way of doing things . I  done tried it and the ends of the fingers are now smoked  .
    Your theory is complete 

    Just my
    I dont think it really worth that much 

    Later im going flying in the AM

    JP
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  11. eskflyer added a post in a topic wanted wanted wanted   

    Theres a set on a plane at the airport but ya mite get      .    you could always say  to the judge 



    hehehhee

    JP
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  12. akflyer added a post in a topic To windy for me to fly today, so.....   

    very nice...I have been on many commercial boats as I grew up commercial fishing.. from 8' dingys to 86' crabbers..  I have only been sailing once when I went to Kenosha to pick up a 1962 chriscraft.. The guy I bought it from was a master of the ocean and had a 60' schooner he had rigged to sail single hand.. I was not to impressed till the wind caught the sail, heeled her over and about pulled the wheel outa my hands... what a rush to feel that power you cant see.  The wife allready knows that the retirement home will be a sail boat... and the kids will be out of the house in 3 more years !!

    And no... I did not have fun at work today... But I did kill 32 viruses I picked up yesterday from the us steel buildings site while researching my new shop..and now have the laptop back up and running...I wont be buying from them now though lol..


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  13. 84KF added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    To windy for me to fly today, so.....
    No need to say anything.....  ;D

    Except..., Leni....? Have a nice day working?? 



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  14. akflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    wanted wanted wanted
    I am looking for a set of 8" wheels and hubs for a kitfox or avid.  I need these to mount up a set of kingfox tires so I dont look like a damn pavement pounder.
    Anyone have any leads on them, or atleast a set of hubs that I can adapt to my one piece 8" wheels let me know!

    Also looking for a set of door lift strut mounts.. I know I can make them pretty darn easy, but I am runnng out of summer and want to cut my fab. time..

    Thanks
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  15. 84KF added a post in a topic Builders reference.... and it's free.   

    JP,
    It might be better to just take the bare end of each existing wire (+) and hold it to ground  (-) while the Master Switch is on.

    This will release the heavy "magic smoke" contained in all wires, and then you can refill each wire with helium.

    The less electrons,protrons, and nutrients in the wire, the lighter it should be.

    That's my theory...and I'm sticking to it.

    steve 
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  16. eskflyer added a post in a topic Builders reference.... and it's free.   

    Steve
    What gauge is the wire 19-22-24 . I need to know so i can lighten the bird up some . 

    Fly safe fly low fly slow
    JP
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  17. akflyer added a post in a topic Fwd view .... Series 5   

    that is the same view I get on the mod II.  I just line up slightly off centerline.  With the left wheel on the centerline, I can keep things straight.  At touchdown, I am not at a full 3 point, but I do transistion from looking ahead to looking out the side and down at the wheel or the runway lights.  Kind of like doing glassy water landings.. you dont land out in the middle of the lake, you land near the shore line and watch the shore to see where the water is as you cant tell by looking down.  That is one reason why I like lakes with lillypads.. as long as you land in the pads, you know there is enough water there and can see the surface just fine..

    By the way.. I am jealous again.. I am back at work for 3 weeks and you are out flying....
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  18. 84KF added a topic in KitFox General Forum   

    Fwd view .... Series 5
    Here is what you have to work with...
    This shot is eye level, and was taken in the run-up area, hence the pavement you see on the left.
    And don't make fun of my pine tree air freshener hanging there in the upper right.....
       It gives it that "new plane " smell.

    steve


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  19. 84KF added a post in a topic got my first flights in a kitfox   

     
    It's a long wing.

    Ya know, shame on me, but I haven't even noticed that (speed) yet. 
    When you go full throttle on mine everything happens so fast.  The acceleration is unbelievable, all focus is on tracking straight. Within seconds you can get the tail up so  as to see where you are going and then it just levitates up at 1000 fps after that at around 65mph.  Even the T-6 doesn't push you back as hard in the seat for those first few seconds.
    Now that I think about it... I don't even look at the airspeed until it's off the ground, there is no time, and it changes so fast
    Now landings....  I established, in flight, that at idle, it will break gently, just nose down, without dropping a wing at 45mph. That's no flaps. With the first notch, 38-40 mph.  So my approach, for now, is at 55-58 w/partial power, and when I have the runway made, power off, pitch up to slow down, continue at 50 +/-, when a few feet up, pitch up more and wait for the nose to block out the entire forward view. Hopefully the ground is just a few inches below when it hits 40 mph.

    My opinion is that it has such a light wing loading (solo, 3/4 fuel) that it doesn't take much crosswind start it drifting at such low speeds. So I'm learning to keep it pointed, and flying, straight with one wing low, right to the end if the x-wind is a factor.
      The closest comparison I can make is it's like a T-Craft on steroids, a real floater if you're to fast, but with absolutely no forward visibility forward in a 3-point attitude. None. Not to mention that you are completely blind to what's on the right side forward.  Not like  tandem seating.  You can see more from the back seat of a Stearman then you can in a Series 5 on Grove gear. I spent last year in a Citabria 7ECA, and you get 180'foward  vision in that, so I'm just learning to do without that luxury.
      The airplane tracks well, so I don't think the alignment is a problem, BUT... I guess I could do the straight-edge check like you suggested just to verify. (It "looks" straight, but I never really thought about it... thanks.)
    Anyway, I still have a lot of playing to do with the power-on, power-off approaches, and I havn't used full flaps on landing yet. But they make great speed brakes.... to fast on final, put that 2nd notch in and you go foward against the seatbelts.. wait a few seconds, go back to 1st notch and all is well, and much slower now.

    more later...
    my dinner is burning....damn.
    steve
     
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  20. akflyer added a post in a topic got my first flights in a kitfox   

    just wanted to make you feel at home lol....

    is yours a speed wing?  If so, what do you rotate at?  on my buddies avid speed wing it is tail up at about 35-40 and rotate at 55-60...he took off in front of me and by mid runway I was 500+ feet higher that him and turning down wind while he was still climbing to pattern altitude..
    He touches down around 55.. I would think that with power and trim you could get her down a bit slower.. but who knows.. I have not flown a 5 yet.
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  21. 84KF added a post in a topic got my first flights in a kitfox   

    "you are full of shit, this is soooooo easy my 15 yr old can do it with one hand behind her back and her eyes shut"

    Leni,
    How many times do I have to tell ya....

    Ya gotta stop cooking all that caribou in 2-stroke oil.

    steve
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  22. akflyer added a post in a topic Builders reference.... and it's free.   

    you should sticky these reference topics so they don't get lost.  I just stickied this one

    good info..  and if you do decide to bundle the telephone wire, make sure you twist the bundles for RF suppression.....
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  23. akflyer added a post in a topic got my first flights in a kitfox   

    I did all my initial training through solo in a pa12, then on to the spam can 152-172, 180, pa-18, 22/20 etc.  I echo your feelings on the attention needed for the first few.  I don't know about your 5, but the II bleeds off speed faster than a Huey with full aft cyclic..and it is sitting a couple feet lower than the cub so it just took a few turns around the patch to get the "picture" of what it should look like.  As far as ground handling, it has the wide gear and kingfox tires, but is a real pussy cat on pavement, and no where near as bad as the 12 or 18 with 32" airstreaks on the pavement.

    I really like the inflight adjustable as keeping your EGT's pegged where you want them on climb, cruise or descent is a simple flick of the switch.  I was flying with a Avid Mk IV speedwing and was only about 10 kts slower W.O.T.

    I think this is going to be a hell of a kick on floats playing with the 100's of lakes in a 50 mile radius, not to mention the places I can get into to hunt and fish that no one else can!!

    My brother was flying a buddies 5 that had the grove gear and it was a bear... they adjusted the toe in on the gear and he said it was night and day... so if it is getting a loose on ya, you may check the wheel alignment (but I am sure you allready have).. if that is the case.... then "you are full of shit, this is soooooo easy my 15 yr old can do it with one hand behind her back and her eyes shut"

    And I did indeed after it was tied down!
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  24. 84KF added a post in a topic got my first flights in a kitfox   

    Leni,

    What was the (minor, naturally) problem? Landing attitude? excess speed?

    I tell ya.... I've flown a lot of taildraggers, and none of them demand the attention at touchdown that my 5 does.
      I'll get use to it, and learn to love it. But thinking it is just a "Cub type"  is not the way to go. I guess if it is what you learn in and initially solo, you have no expectations and bad habits to break. But to "downgrade" to a Kitfox", from what I have learned so far, is an exercise in precise approach techniques.
      I'm not talking about just getting it on the ground... I mean being master of the aircraft, not the other way around.

    Now, if I were posting this on the other site, I would be told I'm full of s--t..., that it's sooooo easy, bla, bla, bla,.
    But I could re-post the link to the NTSB accident site..... 

    Now, go around and give me 3 more....to a full stop.
    Go-arounds don't count...., and three 5' bounces don't count either.......  after.

    Way to go......
    Steve      .
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  25. 84KF added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Builders reference.... and it's free.


    Here is the link to the FAA AC 43.13 1b Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices - Aircraft Inspection and Repair

    http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/99C827DB9BAAC81B86256B4500596C4E?OpenDocument

    While it is the bible for A&P's, next to a Mfgs specific manual, for Type Certificated aircraft, it contains a wealth of information that can, and IMHO, should be applied when questions arise...such as the circuit protection issue being discussed on the other site. (see Chapter 11)

    But then... if you just bundle enough telephone wire together you can make you own starter cable.... right? 
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